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Donald Trump hints US will take softer stance on denuclearisation in North Korea

Donald Trump may back down on his demands for North Korean denuclearisation: EPA
Donald Trump may back down on his demands for North Korean denuclearisation: EPA

Donald Trump has hinted America might accept a phased withdrawal of North Korea’s nuclear missiles, as the fate of the “peace summit” with Kim Jong-un hangs in the balance.

He appeared to back away from his demand that the dictator agrees to abandon his country’s entire nuclear arsenal before the US can lift economic sanctions. “It would certainly be better if it were all in one,” said the US president. “Does it have to be? I don’t think I want to totally commit myself,” he added.

With doubts growing over the June 12 meeting between the leaders in Singapore, the president’s hint was seen today as a bid to tempt Pyongyang back to the negotiating table after it threatened to cancel.

South Korean president Moon Jae-in, who met Mr Trump at the White House yesterday, said the “fate and the future” of the Korean peninsula hinged on the summit.

After suggestions last week that North Korea was wavering on whether to meet the US leader, he said he believed Kim was “serious” about the planned talks, and urged his counterpart in the North to “seize this opportunity”.

He added that they were “one step closer” to the dream of a denuclearised Korean peninsula — and suggested such an achievement could win Mr Trump the Nobel Peace prize.

Vice-president Mike Pence, who was involved in the discussions with the South Korean leader, said no concessions had been given or offered to the North in the run-up to the summit, and planning continued on the understanding that it would go ahead.

Donald Trump may now take a softer stance to Kim Jong Un's nuclear weapons programme (AFP/Getty Images)
Donald Trump may now take a softer stance to Kim Jong Un's nuclear weapons programme (AFP/Getty Images)

But Mr Trump admitted: “There’s a very substantial chance that it won’t work out, and that’s okay. That doesn’t mean it won’t work over a period of time. But it may not work out for June 12.

“There are certain conditions we want to happen,” he added without specifying what they were. “I think we’ll get those conditions. And if we don’t, we won’t have the meeting.”

If the talks do collapse it would be seen as a major blow to Mr Trump and his hopes of a historic peace deal. The White House has even issued a commemorative coin showing the two leaders facing each other. It celebrates the “peace talks” of 2018 but gives no specific date. It also calls Kim “Supreme Leader”.

The summit was thrown into doubt after US National Security Adviser John Bolton indicated Pyongyang must hand over all nuclear weapons and associated equipment before they could expect any lifting of sanctions. The North was furious when Mr Bolton suggested it could follow the “Libyan model” of denuclearisation. Dictator Muammar Gaddafi was later overthrown and killed.

The first sign of progress could come this week with North Korea expected to dismantle its nuclear testing site. A handful of international journalists have been invited to witness the move.